Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-07-28
Nathan Hale and Alice Adams.


l1hFliOTu AAoLBtJ 1bui
Two granddaughters of Alice Adams,
Nathan Hale's betrothed, lived in Hart
ford-Mrs. DIR. Hastings and her sister,
Miss Elizabeth B. Sheldon was at the
unwilling of the Hale statue yesterday,
and after hearing what was said she
made various Important corrections of
the current stories of the engagement of
Hale and Alice Adams. The facts as she
gave them come from manuscript evil
dence, the testimony of her own mother,
who was the daughter of Alice Adams,
and other similar authentic sources.
The tradition is that Alice Adams mar
ried twice after Hale's death, The fact
is that she was already a widow while en-
gagged to Hale and, though she did marry
after his death, it was under peculiar
circumstances, none of which are incon-
sistent with the belief that Hale was the
only man whom she really loved. The
romantic story is substantially as fol-
lows:
Nathan Hale's father married for his
second wife the widow Abigail Adams,
of Canterbury. She had two or three
lovely daughters, grown up or fast grow
ing up, and Mr.. Hale Had several sons of
corresponding age aud attractiveness.
Soon after the families became one the
sons began falling in love with the daugh-
tiers, and one pair of them married. After
this Nathan developed tenderness for
Alice, though she was scarcely more than
a child. The father Hale made up his
mind that there had been enough of this
intermarrying, and summarily shut down
on this match, and sent Nathan off for
his education for the ministry.
Then cana an excellent offer for Alice's
hand. Mr., Eliphalet Ripley, a man of
property and character, some years her
senior, asked her in marriage. She was
of yielding nature, and she gave way TO
the pressure brought to bear upon her
and became Mrs. Ripley at the early age
of 16 gears. Within two years he died,
and she was widow at Is, with a comfor-
table little property. About this time
Nathan Hale came home, and would
tolerate no more opposition. He and
Alice avowed the affection they had had
and became engaged but they could not
be married at once. Then came the war,
and Nathan went off and met the fearful
fate that was their final st paration.
She resolved thereupon never to marry
again, but the person who had charge OF
her property proved dishon est and her en-
tire possessions were lost. Meanwhile the
reputation of her beauty spread far and
wide. She was known as "the handsom
est girl in Connecticut" William Law
renee, of Hartford, familliariy called
the Marquis" son of Treasurer Johr
Lawrence, started after her for his wife
Her friends again urged her to marry ant
she again yielded. She became Mrs
Lawrence and lived in Hartford until sh'
was SO years old. Her last words no
"Write to Nathan" but 30, call Nathan
In her later years she grew somewha
childish, her minding reverting TO thu
people and scenes of her earlier days.
| Mrs. Alice Adams Lawrence frequent.
| spoke of Nathan Hale to her daughter
who in turn repeated the talk to he
daughter, Miss Sheldon says she des
cribed him as 6 feet high, straight as al
Indian, and remarkably athlatic ant
| manly.
The Lawrences lived for Esany years OF
| the cornor of State and Market streets, il
the wooden house only recently pulled
down.
The descendants of the family now il
the city are Miss Sheldon and Mrs. Hast
ings, and Mrs. Hastings children ant
| grandchildren. The children of Mr.. ant
MIS-, ohm Habberton "Helen's Babies,
are grandchildren of Mrs. Hastings, ant
so are great-gre at-grandchildren of Alic
| Adams.